Safety-catch for railway-switches.



No. 829,690. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

I. M. BRITTAIN.

SAFETY CATCH FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES APPLICATION FILED APR. 27. 1906.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

Application filed April 27.1906. semi No. 313.987.

T0 (tZZ 11/77/0777, it TH/(I/Z/ concern.- Be it known that 1, Isaac M.

BRITTAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Bend, in thecounty of Dodge and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Safety Catches for Railway-Switches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in safety-catches forrailway-switches, and refers particularly to the class of switch knownas split or tapered rail. 7

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a device ofthis character which will automatically and securelylock the movablerail against the stock-rail and which is provided with automatic meanswhereby the rails cannot become locked until the switch is in absoluteclosed position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a catch or securingdevice which may be applied to any ordinary split-rail switch and whichwill be of simple, durable, and inexpensive construction, and thoroughlypractical.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists,in thecombination with a switch-stand, of a safetycatch comprising a blockapplied to the stock-rail, a bar secured to the split rail slidablyengaged in said block, a locking-pin mounted in the block, a leverfulcrumed to the block adapted ,to raise said pin, means for operatingthe lever, and means to prevent locking of the switch-stand beforeclosing of the switch.

My invention consists, further, of certain other novel features ofconstructlon, combination, and arrangement of parts substantially asherein disclosed.

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved catch applied to an ordinaryswitch, the parts being in open position. Fig. 2 is a similar view ofthe same with the parts closed and locked. Fig. 3 is a top plan view ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the securingblock. Fig. 5 is asimilar view of the lockingpin and mounting. Fig. 6 is a plan view ofplate.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a railroad-tie having mountedthereon the stock-rail 2 and the tapered or split rail 3. A switch-stand4 is mounted near the end of the tie, in which is supported the post 5,provided at its lower end with the single-arm 6. This arm serves tooperate the link or rod 7, which in turn is connected with the movablesplit rail.

The parts just described are in common use, and I will now proceed todescribe in detail my improved safety-catch: Mounted upon the outer sideof the stock-rail is a securing-block 8, formed with an angularupwardly-inclined jaw or extension 9 for securing the block in position.A longitudinal rectangular passage 10 extends throughout the length ofthe block, and passing through the block and intersecting said passageis the central pin-receiving opening 11, and on either side thereof theslots or openings 12. A slideor flat bar 13 is formed with anangularly-bent end 14, adapted to be secured to the split rail, and thisslide passes beneath the stock-rail and engages the longitudinal passagein the retaining-block 8. As the switch is moved this bar slides withinthe retaining-block, and in order to lock. the bar, and thereby securethe switch, I provide a locking-pin or lug 15, mounted upon thetransverse bar 16. This pin engages the central opening 11 in the block,and. the arms 17 Of the U-shaped frame member 18 pass up through theslots in the block and are secured to the ends of the guiding-bar 16.Thus it willbe seen the horizontal lower portion of the pin-supportinglower side of the block. A lug 19 is formed on the under face of theblock, and to this lug is pivoted the bell-crank or lever 20, having thelateral horizontal extension 21, adapted to engage the protrudingportion of the pinsupporting frame. An angular foot-lever 22 ispivotally secured to the side of the tie, and a link 23 connects saidlever with the bellcrank or operating lever. An opening is formed in theslide 13 at the proper point, so that when the switch is closed thesecuringpin engages said opening. The opening in the slide is slightlylarger than the complementary openings in the block, so as to allow ofghe necessary expansion or creepingof the ra1 To prevent locking theswitch-stand before the rail-point is in proper contact with thestock-rail and the switch is properly closed, I provide automatic meansas follows: A trip-rod24 is mounted in bearings 25 on the upper side ofthe tie, and the end of the rod adjacent the saftey-catch is formed withan angular extension 26, which terminates in an end portion-27, parallelto the body of the rod and resting on the top of the locking-pin.

frame extends below the releasing the switch-point.

. the locking-pin falls This notch is for the reception of the lever 34materially adds to the strength of the switch The other end of the rodis bent into an upright portion 28, which engages the collar 29, formedat one end of the angular slide or lever 30. This lever is pivoted tothe top plate of the switch-stand at 31, and when the switch is open theplain end of the lever 30 is adapted to close the notch 33, formed inthe areshaped edge of the said switch-stand plate.

for operating the switch, and a complementary notch 35 is also providedfor the recep tion of the lever when the switch is open. The edges ofthe notch may be provided with ears or extensions 36 for the insertionof a lock to secure the lever in position, or other locking means may beemployed.

Having thus described the parts of the de vice, the operation thereofwill be readily understood. When it is desired to open the switch,pressure on the angular foot-lever causes the securing-pin to be lifted,thereby The switch-post is then partially rotated to open the switch.The raising of the securing-pin causes the inner endof the trip-rod 24to be raised, which in turn moves the slide-lever on the top plate ofthe switch-stand and causes it to block the notch in the plate toprevent locking of the lever therein until the switch is positivelyclosed again. When the switch is properly closed, it is automaticallylooked, as by force of gravity and locks the slide in theretaining-block.

From this description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will beevident that I have accomplished all the objects herein set forth andhave provided a safety-catch which and is eflicient and positive inoperation.

I claim 1. In a switchlock, the combination with a retaining-blocksecured to the'stock-rail, a bar secured to the movable rail slidable insaid block, and means mounted on the block for locking the bar therein.

2. In a switch-lock, the combination with I a retaining-block securedupon the stock-rail, a slide secured to the movable rail engaging saidblock, means for locking the slide in the block, and means for releasingthe locking means.

3. In a switch-lock, the combination with a retaining-block secured tothe stationary ,rail, a slide secured to the movable rail engaged in apassage in the block, and a locking-pin mounted on the block forsecuring the slide therein 4.. The combination with a movable rail andstationary rail, of a block secured to the stationary.rail formed with alongitudinal passage, a slide mounted in said passage and secured at oneend to the movable rail, a locking-pin mounted in the block adapted toengage complementary openings in the block and slide, and means forreleasing said pin.

,5. The combination with a stationary and movable rail, of asecuring-block mounted upon the stationary rail formed with alongitudinal passage, a slide mounted in said passage secured at one endto the movable rail, a frame passing through the block and verticallyslidable therein, a locking-pin mounted in the frame'adapted to engagecomplementary openings in the block and slide, a bell-crank adapted toengage the lower side of the frame, and means for operating said crank.

6. In a switch-lock, a retaining-block mounted on thestock-rail, a barcarried by the movable rail slidable in said block, means for lockingthe bar in the block, of a switch-stand, and means for pre ventinglocking of the switch-stand before the switch is closed.

7. In a switch-lock, the combination with a switch-stand, a stock-railand movable rail, a retaining-block mounted on the stock-rail, a barsecured to the movable rail slidable in said block, means for lockingthe bar in said block, and means operated by said locking means forpreventing locking of the switchstand before the switch is closed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ISAAC M. BRITTAIN.

I/Vitnesses: Oi-iAs. L. DUNDEY, G. W. IVIANOHESTER.

the combination with

